Improvement m ivj



, 2Sheets-Sheetl. E. CLARK.

Middlings Purifiers.

NO. 134,462. Patented Dec. 31, 1872.

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" AM. PHOTO'UTHOGRA F1110 611M O5B0fiNE.'S PROCESS) EDWIN CLARK, OFLANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT lhl idlBBLlNGSWURIFEERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l3 q&$2 dated December31, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN CLARK, ofLancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Flour andMiddlings-Separator; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof that will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being bad to the accompanying drawing and to the letters ofreference marked thereon which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of machines known as, flour andmiddlings separators or dressers, and has for its object to furnish animproved machine for the purpose of separating bran from the flour ormiddlings,

' leaving the farina or middlings pure and in a proper condition forregrinding, and by this means restoring a large per cent. of the glutento the starch portion of the wheat, being simple in construction,efficient in Opera tion, and durable in use; and it consistsinarrangement of the tines with the fan and air chambers.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a top view with a part of the frame-work cutaway,, showing the interior; Fig. 2 is a bottom View with theconveyor-box and attachments removgedi; Fig. 3 shows the end piece ofthe boltingcase; Fig. 4 is an end view of the machine; and Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the boltirame and knockers with the cloth removed,

A represents a frame or casdfor' the machine, which may be made in anysuitable or desired form, so as to be conveniently adapted to themechanism of the machine and convenience in construction. 13 representsthe valves, each of which is hinged to the bottom of the air-chamber inwhich it is placed. Below each of said valves, and attached to the same,are

shafts (J suitably jcurnaled in the sides of the frame, one end of whichextends outside of the frame, and provided with the knobs D, by whichmeans the valves can be easily and readily adjusted to admit more orless air, as dcsired. The air-chamber is entirely above the bolt-cloth.E E represent partitions, extendin g upward and formingchambers for thepurpose of allowing the flow of air to be shut 05 from either of thechambers through the medium of the valves and openings in the air-fleesF G H leading to the fan-box. These chambers may be as many in number asdesired. I I represent slides supported upon the frame A. I Said slidesare provided with a slot and screw to regulate their position. To theslides .a red, at, is attached which extends downward,

and is secured to the frame by a pivot, by which means the ends of theframe are caused to be changed in the throw of the bolt to re,- ulatethe discharge from the same. The top of said rods a should be threadedand provided with a thumb-screw so as to adjust the vertical position ofthe ends of the bolt-frame. J represents the fan-box, divided into twodivisions by the partition as, having a case, K, on each sidecommunicating with the air-fines L and M, said flucs extending along onthe top of the machine and communicating with the air-chambers throughthe opcnin gs F, G, and H. Nrepresents a cloth, which may be of theusual material, and gradedor not, as desired. Below the cloth N theheaters P are arranged, being attached to the rock-shafts O in anysuitable manner. These heaters 1? may be of wire, wood, or metal, or anyother material, but should be arranged to have a beating meticn againstthe cloth N, which I prefer to obtain through the medium of therock-shafts 0, link Q, springs T, and catch and cam R, the cam movingthe link Q, in one direction, which is pivoted to the rock-shafts, and,being released by the catch from the cam, is drawn rapidly back by theaction of the springs T, one end of which being attached to the frameand the other to the rock-shafts, by which means the required motion tothe heaters is obtained. The boaters do not strike upon the frame G, butupon the cloth N; and, to pro ,cloth properly clear.

vent damage to the cloth by the heaters, the frame to which the heatersand their operating mechanism are connected has the same motion as thebolt-frame G, so that the beaters move with the same speed back andforth with the cloth N. These boaters should be as many as necessary innumber to keeplthe The advantage gained in using the heaters instead ofbrushes is that the brushes create a constant friction upon the clothand wear the same, and as the heaters strike the cloth and then at oncefall from the same by their weight, the material gathered in the same israised by the current of air passing through the cloth. U represents theend piece or conveying-spout, which is placed at the end of the bolt tocatch the bran or coarse material passing over the end of the bolt,beneath which any receptacle may be placed to catch the same. This spoutis formed widest at the top and gradually decreasing in size downward bythe inclines b b, altogether forming the end piece of the machine. Vrepresents a feed-slide gate, furnished with a slot and set-screw, so asto be adjusted as desired. WV represents an opening through which thematerial passes into the hopper, falling upon the roller W; by which itis carried to the bolt. X represents the conveyor, placed directly belowthe hopper Y in the usual manner. A represents the fan-shaft, suitably journaled in the frame. B represents a shaft having a pulley, E, by whichmotion is communicated to the machine. On the center of said shaft is abox, F, attached to the frame, in which is placed an eccentric on theshaft for the purpose of giving the vibrating motion to the bolt-frame.0 represents a band or belt, giving motion to the feed-roll W. Thefeed-roll W is provided with a pulley, on one end from which the heatersare operated by means of the belt D. G, Fig. 5, represents thebolt-frame with the cloth removed. Said frame is made in rectangularform, as shown, and provided with transverse bars L, which are providedwith thumb set-screws M which bear upon the longitudinal bars G, theobject of which is to adjust the cloth by raising ordepres ing the barsG, to which the cloth is atta' ed, so that the material will be evenlydistribhted upon the cloth. By this means either side of the cloth andthe center may be adjusted as desired. H represents knockers passingthrough suitable guides N, and are provided with projections 0 c, whichcome in contact with the shaft 1, of the construction shown, by whichmeans the knockers H H are raised as the shaft revolves until the flatportion of the shaft 1 passes the projections c 0, when the knockersfall by their own weight upon the bar L, thereby jarring the cloth forthe purpose of keeping the cloth clear, so that the air may pass throughit, and the purified material readily pass through the cloth down i I, linto the eouveyer. Motion is conveyed to the shaft 1 by a belt from apulley on the end of the feed-roller to the pulley K upon the end of theshaft ,1.

The operation is as follows: The material is fed bfy'the: roller W uponthe cloth ofthe.

bolt-frame having the reciprocating motion, by which means and thecurrent of air the heavier part of the bran is carried along the clothand discharged into the spout U, while the lighter-portion of the sameis. drawn up by suction through the valves B and openings F, G, and H,into the divided fan-box, and discharged at 0, while the purifiedmaterial passes through the cloth into the hopper Y and conveyer X,where it is collected, graded,

and discharged in the usual manner. The current of air passing upthrough the cloth, valves B, and openings F, G, and H, by suction intothe fan-box is received. from openings on each side of the machine justbelow the bolt-frame, said current of air being evenly distributed uponthe cloth as the valves B open entirely across the air-chambers, whichproduces a far better result than where the valves open only a shortdistance from either side pr the center, thus causing a" draft centeredupon the single point corresponding to the length of the valves.

By use of the double fan, in connection with the air-fines L and M, thematerial drawn up through the openings G and H may be dis chargedseparately at O, and thus making separate grades of the material, whichwould not be thcpase where there was only one airflue upon one side ofthe machine with openin gs connecting with the several air-chambers andby the addition of an air-flue and fan to each a'ir chamber, thematerial passing up through the openings above each chamber could bedischarged and collected separately.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The adjustable valves 13,hinged in the bottom of the air -,chambers and extending across saidchamber, in combination with the bolt, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth,

2. Th s adjustable valves B, hinged in the botton oflthe air-chamber, incombination with he bolt air-fines L M with openings F, Gr, and H, andfan, substantially as and for the purposes specified. 3. The combinationof the fan-box J, divided into two or more divisions by a partition, as,each provided with a fan, with the separate air-dues L and M,substantially as and for the purpose lspecified.

4. The slides I and rods a supporting the bolt-frame, and arranged to beadjusted substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination of the rock-shaft 0 carrying the heaters P with thebolt-frame and operating mechanism, as shown and described,

ESQ/B62 3 or its equivalent, so that the heaters move her L to adjustthe bolt-cloth, substantially with the bolt and heat directly upon thecloth, as and for the purpose described. substantially as and for thepurpose described. In testimony that I claim the foregoing l 6. Thecombination of the knockers H e, have hereunto set my hand this 9th dayof guides N, shaft 1', and bar L, constructed November, 183?.

and arranged above the bolt-frame, as and for EDWIN CLARK. the purposeset forth. Witnesses:

7. The thumb-screws M, or their equim- JOHN A. ELLIS,

lents, arranged with the bolt-frame G Gr and WM. K. ELLIS.

